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Surf suits work just fine for scuba in warm water. I’m not sure 3mm will be enough in Palau. I wore 5mm when I was there on the Aggressor, but I am a wimp when it comes to cold. I’d consult a Palau seasonal water temperature chart and/or a Palau expert.

Even in 80 degree water, your body’s core temperature will drop, especially noticeable after a few days, even if you are only doing one dive a day. Divers with a bit of ”natural insulation” can handle no-wetsuit-diving better than other folks, I‘ve observed. I recommend to everyone to always...

The comfort topside between dives, especially when windy or on a moving boat, is the big win for rashguards. Rashguards are skin tight and can also be worn under a wetsuit…to guard against rashes! :-) This gives you sun and wind protection between dives when you peel down the top portion of a...

Sorry, I was a bit too sleepy when I posted the above. This information would be WAY more useful with the details below added: I am 5’9” and weigh 170 lbs. Both my wetsuits are one-piece suits in size Medium. Both are Aqualung; 5 mil is a 2019 AquaFlex (I think) and the 7 mil is a ~2016 SolaFlex.

I wear 8 lbs in my 5 mil I wear 16 lbs in my 7 mil

Off the top of my head, for me, I choose one-piece because: -easier to pack -no water in-flow in the waist area -(feels like) less water exchange overall -slightly easier to store, rinse, dry Your body works really hard to warm up the water in your suit so you really don’t want to flush it...

Bonaire. Direct flights from Newark. Known for shore diving, but the boat diving is better. Short boat rides and ability to dive Klein Bonaire. I think any of the dive resorts will put together an all-inclusive program for you.

My group went in July 2019. We had the whole boat. It was a bit windy but the captain did a great job finding sheltered spots to dive. Only one person got seasick, and this was a non-diver. All diving is off the stern of the mothership. I don’t think any cabin would be better than any other for...

I was on the Roatan Aggressor this past summer. I have T-Mobile and Honduras is included in their free international coverage. I found it totally satisfactory on this trip. While on a liveaboard, I am personally not a big data user, so YMMV.

I’ve been on 5 liveaboards at locations around the world. Based on chats with fellow customers and more experienced liveaboard travelers, I believe 15% of the boat fare is considered typical for normal-to-good service. That’s what I tip, usually rounding up a bit to a multiple of $50. I know...

One diver’s opinion/suggestion... Divi Flamingo Bonaire provides this type of training. Very safe, protected from wind and weather. The staff even regularly support wheel-chair-bound divers, so training a healthy 70-year-old should be a snap for them. I have been there three times and the...

Bonaire. Famous for shore diving, but that is a “young person’s game” in my opinion. Short boat rides, like 5 to 15 minutes. And the best diving is arguably at Klein Bonaire, so a boat is necessary. No current to speak of. It is a mellower place topside than Cozumel, too Check out Divi...

You could try switching to Force Fins. I love mine with my attached dry suit boots. My boots are somewhat oversized, but not dramatically so. Force Fin Force Fins are great, and way under-appreciated since they aren’t marketed by any of the big-name gear manufacturers. I wear a smaller pair in...

I got my son certified in this fashion at Divi Flamingo in Bonaire. I have been to Divi Flamingo 3 times and every time I see families getting certified. Great instructor staff there. Even the house reef at Divi Flamingo is a treat for new divers. My son did the maximum amount of online...

I snorkeled with the whale sharks last summer. I am a very experienced diver and snorkeler, and I actually liked wearing the provided life vest. One big plus is that it puts the boat captain and guide at ease. They get a LOT of bozos on their boats, bozos who can barely swim. Remember, they...

Yes, I’d personally choose the III (3) because of the dive deck. I dive as much as I can and then sleep like a rock so the bunks don’t really matter to me. I was raised on California Channel Island liveaboards...pretty rustic. But there really isn’t much difference between the boats...

I’ve been on the III once but walked through the lV when we got back to the dock. Concur about the bunk rooms. I believe the III has a bigger and more diver-friendly dive deck. I personally would choose the III over the lV when I go back...which intend to do. But there really isn’t a big...

Try a Belize Aggressor liveaboard...dive, eat, sleep, repeat. Big turtles, sharks, tarpon and (maybe, if lucky) dolphins should be a change of pace from Cozumel. The long boat rides are a pain in Cozumel. On an Aggressor, there is no boat ride in the morning. Five dives a day if you want. Nitrox.

I love my drysuit for scuba, but I can’t imagine using it for freediving. Without an inflation source (tank) I can imagine some real dangerous buoyancy problems.

Addressing ONLY your newness as a diver, I recommend Divi Flamingo in Bonaire. Bonaire in general has very protected water and no current. Though Bonaire has a reputation for shore diving, I would recommend only boat diving for you. Fully disclose your newbie-ness to the Divi staff and they...